Modular partition system

ABSTRACT

A panel having a hook extending outwardly from the top thereof and a foot extending inwardly along its bottom. The hook is fitted over the top of a supporting post and is automatically centered thereon, which in turn centers the panel. The supporting post includes a slot near its bottom into which the base of a clip located at the bottom of the panel is fitted. The top edge of the panel includes a longitudinal slot which accommodates the downwardly depending tongue of a decorative top extrusion. This slot is also adapted to accommodate hangers for hanging cabinets or supporting other similar structures.

United States Patent Ostborg I 1 Sept. 19, 1972 154] MODULAR PARTITIONSYSTEM [72] Inventor: Jan Nathan Ostborg, Michigan City,

Ind.

[73] Assignee: Steelease 1nc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

[221 Filed: April 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 29,619

521 US. Cl ..52/239 [51] Int. Cl ..E04b 2/78, E04b 2/82 [58] Field ofSearch ..52/238, 241, 495, 497, 239, 52/281, 282, 283, 301

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,398,981 8/1968 Vincens..287/l89.35 3,027,605 4/1962 Nelsson ..52/242 X 3,194,361 7/1965Thurman ..52/495 3,228,157 l/l966 Jacobson ..52/239 3,261,625 7/1966Cripe ..52/239 3,437,362 4/1969 Offenbruich ..52/726 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 630,743 11/1961 Canada ..52/397 1,307,968 9/1962 France..52/239 1,311,348 10/1962 France ..52/239 1,202,295 7/1959 France..52/2 82 784,300 10/1957 Great Britain ..52/282 795,714 5/1958 GreatBritain ..52/238 824,583 12/1959 Great Britain ..52/238 PrimaryExaminer-John E. Murtagh Attorney-Price, Heneveld, I-Iuizenga & Cooper 57] ABSTRACT A panel having a hook extending outwardly from the topthereof and a foot extending inwardly along its bottom. The hook isfitted over the top of a supporting post and is automatically centeredthereon, which in turn centers the panel. The supporting post includes aslot near its bottom into which the base of a clip located at the bottomof the panel is fitted. The top edge of the panel includes alongitudinal slot which I accommodates the downwardly depending tongueof a decorative top extrusion. This slot is also adapted to accommodatehangers for hanging cabinets or supporting other similar structures.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PKTEN'TEH 19 I912 3.691. 709 "sum 1 or 3INVENTOR. AW 14 4 77mm area/Pa W Wvw PAIENTEDSEH IM 3.691.709

SHEET 2 BF 3 I I NVENTOR. d4 ,4/4 71/04! 067196196 MODULAR PARTITIONSYSTEM BACKGROUND This invention relates to modular partition systems.While such systems are not new in the art, the predecessors of thepresent invention have all been complicated, clumsy and expensive tomanufacture and install.

Generally, such systems include panels which are to be secured to posts.Frequently, these panels must be carefully centered on the posts beforebeing secured. Too often, complicated mechanical fastening means such asnuts and bolts are usually used. The result is that such systems are notonly expensive to manufacture, but are extremely time consuming toinstall.

Furthermore, such systems almost universally lack versatility. If onedesires to support only one panel, he uses one type of post. If hedesires to support two panels from the same post, he must substitute asecond, specially designed post. If he wants to support three panels, hemust use still another post, etc. Thus, in

. order to have a completely versatile system, the owner must have asupply of several different types of supporting posts.

Furthermore, if the owner wishes to use some sort of superstructure,such as glass across the top of the panels, he must use yet anotherspecially designed post. In addition, special panels must be used inorder to accommodate such superstructure. Frequently, the glass must bebuilt into the panel, and cannot be added on to an existing panel.

Yet another glaring defect in the versatility of existing partitionsystems is exposed when one desires to secure cabinets or the like tothe panels. Again, special panels are almost universally required, orelse existing must be especially adapted. The only other alternative inthe existing art is simply to drape hangers over the tops of the panelssuch that they are exposed.

In general then, the current art in modular partition systems is ahodgepodge of complicated, clumsy and expensive equipment. Moreimportantly, most such equipment is lacking in the level of versatilitywhich would be desired.

The present invention includes a support post having an opening in itstop. The panel to be supported by the post has a hook protruding fromits end which extends over the top edge of the post and downwardly intosaid opening. An insertion means having a centering recess whichaccommodates the aforementioned hook is fitted into the opening. Thus,the hook and panel is automatically centered on the support post.Furthermore, the post can have a plurality of sides, the insertion meanshaving a corresponding plurality of sides and centering recesses. Thistremendously increases the versatility of a single support post, byallowing one to support either one, two or as many panels as there aresides.

Another feature of the invention is that the support post has a slotnear its bottom. A clip means engages said slot and includes meanswhereby it can be secured to the panel. Thus, the panel can be readilysecured at its base to the support post by means of a simple mechanicaloperation. Furthermore, every side of the support post can include sucha slot such that more than one panel can be secured to the same post.Consequently, a system can be changed from a one panel to a two panelsystem without substituting a second post.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the panel to be supportedincludes a longitudinal slot in its top edge. This is fitted with anextrusion having a downwardly depending tongue which fits snugly intothis longitudinal slot. Consequently, the panel can be economicallymanufactured by securing two opposite walls without worrying aboutfinishing off the exposed top edge during manufacture. Additionally, theextrusion can be merely decorative or it can be functional. It can bedesigned to support additional superstructure such as a sheet of glass.

Furthermore, the longitudinal aperture in the top of the panel readilyaccommodates hanger means to which cabinets and the like can be secured.A U- shaped top member can then be fitted over the top edge of the panelinstead of the aforementioned extrusion having a tongue.

Finally,the aforementioned hook can be integrally formed as part of anend rib by means of which the two opposite walls of a panel are fastenedtogether. This achieves yet another economy in manufacturing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded viewof two alternative panel assemblies;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an office work station created by aparticular arrangement of applicants modular partition system;

FIG. 3 is a broken, fragmentary side elevation of a partition assembly;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a post cap;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a post cap;

FIG. 6 is a broken cross-sectional view taken along plane VIVI of FIG.3;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the plane VII-VIIof FIG. 3, with the post cap being replaced by the coupler of a postextension member;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional, top elevation of a post extension with asheet of glass secured thereto;

FIG. 9 is a broken, cross-sectional end elevation of a panel having aglass panel superstructure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cabinet hanger and top cover for apanel when such hangers are used; and

FIG. 11 is a broken, cross-sectional end elevation of a cabinet hung ona panel.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the figures in more detail, FIG. 1shows separate support posts 10 to which panels 20 are to be secured.The posts 10 are capped with post caps 30. The panels 20 are supportedat their bottom edges by clips 40. In one case, the panel 20 is toppedwith extrusion member 50. In the other case, the panel 20 is topped withan extension extrusion 60 into which plate glass 3 is to be fitted. Thisassembly also includes post extension 70. FIGS. 10 and 11 show a hangerfor cabinets and a special top member for the panel 20 on which suchhanger 80 is used.

Support post 10 includes a leg member 11 which is made of tubular metalof square cross section. Leg 1 l is approximately 10 or 12 inches long.Inserted into and extending upwardly from leg 11 is coupler 12 which isalso a tubular metal member of square cross section. It is rigidlysecured to leg 11 such that the two form an integral assembly. Trunk I4is also a tubular metal member of square cross section having dimensionscomparable to those of leg 11. Thus, it fits snugly over coupler 12. Itcan be disassembledif desired. This entire assembly 11, 12 and 14 issupported by a glide and leveler 13 which is inserted into the bottom ofleg 11. This can be a glide and leveler of any conventional type.Support post is further characterized by the existence of a slot 15located horizontally in each of the four sides of coupler 12 (FIG. 3).This slot is located just above the top edge of leg 11. r

Each panel includes two sides 21 made of sheet metal. Sandwichedtherebetween is honeycomb cardboard 22 which acts as a sound deadenerand which also tends to hold the two sides 21 together since it isapplied with adhesive to each side 21. Each side 21 is bent inwardlyalong its top, then upwardly, and then inwardly again to form a topflange 23 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. This flange 23 is shaped somewhatlike a Z. The top flanges 23 of opposing sides 21 do not intersect, butrather leave a longitudinal aperture or slot 24 along the top edge ofpanel 20. The opposite sides of panel 20 are primarily joined togetherby means of a pair of channel shaped ribs 25, one rib 25 being locatedat each end of panel 20 (FIG. 3). Each rib 25 includes a back 26 and twosides 27 extending perpendicularly from back 26. Back 26 extendsperpendicularly outwardly and then perpendicularly downwardly from thetop of the channel shaped portion of rib 25 to form a hook 28 as bestseen in FIG. 3. Rib 25 is bent inwardly at its bottom to form a foot 29which is also channel shaped and includes a pair of threaded holes 29a.The sides 21 of panel'20 are secured as bywelding to the sides 27 ofribs 25. Preferably, the end portions of the panel sides 21 are bentperpendicularly inwardly and secured as by welding to back 26, of rib 25Post cap 30 is also of a generally square cross section and has a flatdecorative top 31. The dimensions of top 31 are comparable to theoutside dimensions of trunk 14. Depending from top 31 are four sides 32.Each side 32 is only slightly longer in length to the inside width of aside of trunk 14. Each side 32 includes a recess 34 (FIG. 4). Thus, eachside 32 is not flat, but rather is recessed in its central portion.Centered within each recess 34 is a notch 33 (FIG. 5) extending from thebase thereof vertically upwardly towards top 31.

Clip 40 is an L-shaped member including a base 41 and a longer leg 42(FIGS. 1 and 3). Leg 42 has two holes therein which accommodate screws43 (FIG. 3).

Top extrusion 50 is formed of plastic by an extrusion process. Itincludes a flat top surface 51, downwardly depending tongue 52 anddownwardly depending side walls 54. Tongue 52 depends downwardly fromthe center of top 51 throughout'its length. Each side of tongue 52slopes slightly outwardly and then inwardly again as one moves down fromtop 51. It includes a longitudinal aperture or slit 53 extendingupwardly through its center, throughout its length. The width of tongue52 at its widest point is just slightly larger than the width of thelongitudinal aperture 24 in panel 20. At its top and bottom, tongue 52is comparable in width to the width of aperture 24. However, slit 53allows tongue 52 to be compressed slightly when being inserted intolongitudinal aperture 24. Also, depending downwardly from top 51 areside walls 54, one being located on either side of tongue 52. Thedistance between side walls 54 is comparable to the distance between theupwardly extending portions of the top flanges 23 of panel sides 21.

Similarly, the extension extrusion 60 includes a top 61, tongue 63, slit64 and side wall 65. These members are comparable in construction andfunction to top 51, tongue 52, slit 53, and side walls 54 of topextrusion 50. In addition, extension extrusion 60 includes a pair ofchannel walls 62 depending upwardly therefrom (FIG. 9). This pair ofwalls 62 extends the length of extrusion 60 and forms a channel intowhich plate glass 3 can be fitted.

Post extension 70, shown in FIG. 1, includes a short tubular trunk 74and a coupler 71 inserted therein. Coupler 71 extends downwardly fromthe bottom of short trunk 74 and can be fitted snugly inside of trunk 14of support post 10. Short trunk 74 and trunk 14 have identicalcross-sectional dimensions.,Coupler 71 is somewhat X-shaped in crosssectionas can be seen from FIG. 7. Arms 72 are crossed to form an X.Each arm 72 is notched on either side of either end, each notch forminga V and extending from top to bottom of coupler 71. In this fashion,each pair. of adjacent notches of the two different arms 72 forms arecess which is comparable in dimensions and function to recess 34 ofcap 30. Post extension also includes an attachment channel 75 into whichplate glass 3 can be fitted.

Hanger 80, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is designed to facilitate hangingcabinets to a panel 20. It includes a hook portion 81 and an arm 82which is integral with hook 81 but which juts slightly outwardly andthen downwardly from hook 81. Extending through arm 82 is a bolt 83 towhich a nut 84 can be threaded.

When hanger is used, a special top is used to cap the top edge of panel20. Top member 90 includes a flat top surface 91, downwardly dependingsides 92 and upwardly and inwardly bent flanges 93. Flanges 93 areactually tabs which would extend downwardly from sides 92, but which arebent upwardly against the inside surfaces of sides 92. These flanges 93are spaced sufficiently far apart that a hook 81 of a hanger 80 can befitted in the space between adjacent flanges 93.

Finally, when hanger 80 is used, a reinforcing plate is held in placeagainst the inside wall of a cabinet 4 (FIG. 1 1) and is bolted againstthat surface by means of the nut and bolt combination 83, 84.

OPERATION In setting up a panel assembly 1 (FIG. 2), one begins with adisassembled post such as is shown in FIG. 1. Actually, the glide andleveler 13 may already be in position. The base of L-shaped clip 40 isinserted into slot 15 in coupler 12. When base 41 is inserted into slot15 as far as it will go, clip 40 is rotated downwardly until leg 42 isgenerally horizontal. At this point, base 41 will abut the insidesurface of coupler 12 and a portion of leg 42 will abut the top edge ofleg 11.

Then, trunk 14 is slipped over coupler 12 and is forced downwardly untilit abuts leg 42 of clip 40. A panel 20 is now attached to support post10 by hooking hook 28 over the top edge of that side of trunk 14 whichcorresponds to the side of coupler 12 from which clip 40 extends. Cap 30is then inserted into the top of trunk 14. Because the sides 32 areslightly longer than the inside width of each side of trunk 14, cap 30has to be forced slightly. This operation is facilitated by the notches33 which allow sides 34 to compress slightly. The dimensions of recess34 in each side of cap 30 correspond to the width of that portion ofhook 28 which extends downwardly into trunk 14. Thus, hook 28 fitssnugly into recess 34 of cap 30. Since recess 34 is centered inside 32of cap 30, hook 28 is centered with respect to trunk 14 and support post10. Furthermore, since hook 28 is oriented in the center of the end edgeof panel 20, panel 20 is thereby centered with respect to trunk 14 ofsupport post 10.

Next, screws 43 are placed in the holes in the leg 42 of clip 40.Threaded holes 29a in foot 29 of rib 25 now correspond in location tothe location of the holes in leg 42. Thus, screws 43 are threaded intoholes 29a and foot 29 is thereby secured to clip 40. Correspondingly,panel 20 is firmly secured to post10.

The top edge of panel 20 is then finished off with extrusion 50. Tongue52 is forced downwardly int'o longitudinal slot 24 in the top edge ofpanel 20. The tongue 52 starts readily into aperture 24 since its bottomwidth is comparable to, or preferably slightly less than, the width ofaperture 24. Slit 53 allows tongue 52 to compress slightly as it isbeing forced past its wide midsection and then spring outwardly againonce the wide midsection is within the aperture 24. The narrower topportion of tongue 52 then settles comfortably into aperture 24. The sidewalls 54 fit snugly against the vertical portions of flanges 23 of theopposite sides 21 of panel 20.

In a similar fashion, the other end of panel 20 is secured to a secondsupport post and is thereby supported at both ends. Leveling of thepanel assembly can be achieved by means of the leveling glides 13.

If desired, more than one panel can be supported on any given post 10.One merely inserts a second clip 40 into the slot of another side ofcoupler 12. Since the coupler 12 of every post 10 includes a slot 15 oneach of its sides, and since each centering cap 30 has a recess 34 oneach of its sides 31, each support post 10 will support as many panelsas it has sides in the preferred embodiment, four.

If one desires to add a plate glass extension 3 to a panel assembly, onesubstitutes extension extrusion 60 for extrusion 50 (FIG. 9). Plateglass 3 fits snugly between the upstanding channel walls 62 of extension60. Extension extrusion 60 is secured to panel 20 in a manner which isidentical to that in which extrusion 50 is secured thereto.

When plate glass extension 3 is used, support post 10 is extended bymeans of post extension 70. This obviates the necessity of using anentirely different post. First of all, the cap 30 is removed from thetop of trunk 14. Then, coupler 71 is inserted into the top of trunk 14until the bottom edge of short trunk 74 abuts the top edge of trunk 14.The hooks 28 of any panels 20 which are secured to support post 10 aresnugly accommodated by a pair of adjacent notches 73 on crossed arms 72.These notches 73 form a recess which acts to center hook 28 in a manneridentical to that in which it is centered by the recess 34 in cap 30.Since post 10 has four sides, four such recesses are defined by coupler71, one for each side of post 10. With post extension 70 in place, plateglass 3 is fitted snugly into attachment channel 75. Post extension 70is the capped with the same cap 30 which was used in the aforedescribedmanner.

If desired, one can additionally hang cabinets 4 and the like from apanel assembly (FIG. 2). Hanger is hooked onto panel 20, by hooking hook81 into the longitudinal aperture 24 in the top of panel 20 (FIG. 11).Arm 82 juts slightly outwardly from hook 81 before extending downwardlytherefrom in order to leave a small space between arm 82 and side 21 ofpanel 20. This small space accommodates the head of bolt 83. A holedrilled in the back of a cabinet 4 is then fitted over bolt 83. Areinforcing plate 100 may then be fitted over bolt 83, or it can bepreviously welded or otherwise secured to the back of cabinet 4. Thishelps reinforce the back of cabinet 84 and prevent it from bending awayfrom nut 84 which is threaded onto bolt 83 to hold cabinet 4 andreinforcement plate 100 in place. The top of panel 20 is then finishedoff by means of top member 90. The hangers 80 are located such that thehook portions 81 fit between adjacent flanges 93 of top member 90.Flanges 93 are comparable in thickness to the thickness of hanger 81.This creates a small space between side wall 21 of panel 20 and side 92of top member 90. Since this space is approximately equal to thethickness of hook 81, the latter is nicely accommodated between a side92 of top member and a side member 21 of panel 20. The opposite sides 92of top member 90 spring slightly inwardly and thereby exert pressureagainst the sides 21 of panel 20 to hold top member 90 in place.

In this fashion, a work station as is shown in FIG. 2 can be fabricatedusing panel assemblies constructed according to this invention. The workstation shown in FIG. 2 includes panel assemblies, 1, desk 2, plateglass tops 3, cabinet 4 and a file cabinet 5, the latter being onlypartially shown. A great variety of different types of work stations canbe constructed around the panel assemblies of this invention. Any givenpanel can be quickly and easily erected and existing panels can bereadily altered. One need merely insert a clip 40 into a support post10, hook a panel 20 over support post 10, and then screw clip 40 to thebottom of panel 20. The panel 20 is automatically centered, either bymeans of cap 30 having centering recesses 34 or by the coupler portion71 of post extension 70 having comparable centering recesses.

Tremendous versatility is achieved in that the same post can be used tosupport either one, two, three or four panels. The panel can then befinished off with a decorative extrusion or with a functional extensionextrusion. In a sense, the panel 20 is not actually completelyconstructed until the extrusion 50 or the extension extrusion 60 is putin place. Thus, the versatility offered by using the longitudinalaperture 24 in the top of panel 20 additionally acts to decreasemanufacturing costs since the top edge of panel 20 need not bedecoratively finished during manufacture.

Further economies are achieved since the rib 27, hook 28 and foot 29 areintegral and can be formed in a single bending operation. In thisfashion, the channel shaped rib 25 serves the function of joiningopposite sides 21 together and additionally serves the function ofsupporting panel 20 on post 10.

Finally, the existence of the longitudinal slot 24 further facilitatesthe versatility of this invention when combined with hanger members 80to facilitate hanging cabinets and the like from panel assemblies. Thus,the present invention achieves the utmost in versatility and economicalconstruction.

it is understood that the above is merely a preferred embodiment of thisinvention and that many changes and alterations can be made thereofwithout departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows.

l. A partition comprising: an open ended support post having at leastone side; a panel having a rib adjacent its end and extendingapproximately the height of said end; said rib extending out from thetop and the end of saidpanel and forming a hook; said hook extendingover the top edge of said support post; means mounted on said tubularsupport post, including a centering recess receiving said hook andacting to center said hook in said panel with respect to said supportpost; said support post including a slot in the lower region thereof; aclip means engaging said slot; said rib also bending inwardly at thebottom of said panel, and v wardly from said leg; said leg extendingbeneath said foot and being secured thereto.

3. A partition as in claim 1 which is further characterized by: saidsupport post being tubular and having a plurality of sides, each of saidsides including one of said slots at the bottom regions thereof; saidinsertion means having a corresponding plurality of sides, each of saidsides including a centering recess such that a panel can be hung andcentered on each of said sides of said post.

4. A partition as in claim 2 which is further characterized by: saidsupport post being tubular and having a plurality of sides, each of saidsides including one of said slots at the bottom regions thereof; saidinsertion means having a corresponding plurality of sides, each of saidsides including a centering recess such that a panel can be hung andcentered on each of said sides of said post.

5. A partition as in claim 1 wherein said panel is further characterizedby having a longitudinal recess in the top edge thereof; an extrusionhaving a downwardly extending tongue extending snugly into said recessand securing said extrusion to the top of said panel.

6. A partition as in claim 4 wherein said panel corn prises two oppositeside walls being rigidly secured to each other in spaced apartrelationship, with a longitudinal recess being formed by a space betweenthe tops of said side walls; an extrusion having a downwardly extendingtongue extending snugly into said recess and securing said extrusion tothe top of said panel.

1. A partition comprising: an open ended support post having at leastone side; a panel having a rib adjacent its end and extendingapproximately the height of said end; said rib extending out from thetop and the end of said panel and forming a hook; said hook extendingover the top edge of said support post; means mounted on said tubularsupport post, including a centering recess receiving said hook andacting to center said hook in said panel with respect to said supportpost; said support post including a slot in the lower region thereof; aclip means engaging said slot; said rib also bending inwardly at thebottom of said panel, and forming a foot which is adjacent to saidbottom; said clip means being secured to said foot of said rib, saidfoot having receiving means to facilitate said securance.
 2. A partitionas in claim 1 which is further characterized by: said clip means beingL-shaped having a base and a leg positioned in said slot with said legextending through said slot and said base extending upwardly from saidleg; said leg extending beneath said foot and being secured thereto. 3.A partition as in claim 1 which is further characterized by: saidsupport post being tubular and having a plurality of sides, each of saidsides including one of said slots at the bottom regions thereof; saidinsertion means having a corresponding plurality of sides, each of saidsides including a centering recess such that a panel can be hung andcentered on each of said sides of said post.
 4. A partition as in claim2 which is further characterized by: said support post being tubular andhaving a plurality of sides, each of said sides including one of saidslots at the bottom regions thereof; said insertion means having acorresponding plurality of sides, each of said sides including acentering recess such that a panel can be hung and cenTered on each ofsaid sides of said post.
 5. A partition as in claim 1 wherein said panelis further characterized by having a longitudinal recess in the top edgethereof; an extrusion having a downwardly extending tongue extendingsnugly into said recess and securing said extrusion to the top of saidpanel.
 6. A partition as in claim 4 wherein said panel comprises twoopposite side walls being rigidly secured to each other in spaced apartrelationship, with a longitudinal recess being formed by a space betweenthe tops of said side walls; an extrusion having a downwardly extendingtongue extending snugly into said recess and securing said extrusion tothe top of said panel.